Over 50 Killed in Fresh Plateau Attacks Despite Tinubu’s Peace Promise

Fresh attacks in Plateau State have killed more than 50 people, according to figures compiled by Daily Trust from local sources and security officials — raising the confirmed toll from the latest wave of violence to levels that directly contradict public assurances made by President Bola Tinubu that he had taken decisive steps to protect the region.

The killings, which cut across multiple communities in the state, come within days of earlier Plateau attacks that already drew national condemnation. This newest surge pushes the cumulative death toll significantly higher and leaves communities asking the same question they have asked for years: who is actually in charge of their security?

The 50-Plus Toll

According to Daily Trust’s report published Thursday, the combined death toll from the most recent round of attacks has now exceeded 50 people. The figure was drawn from accounts gathered across affected communities and corroborated by security sources. Many of the victims are civilians who were caught in the attacks on their homes and farms.

Premium Times earlier reported a separate fresh attack that killed 13, coming within days of the Barkin Ladi massacre that shocked the country. The cumulative picture painted by both reports is one of sustained, coordinated violence that security forces have failed to stop.

Tinubu’s Promise vs. The Reality

President Tinubu visited Plateau State on April 3, 2026, and publicly pledged to restore lasting peace to the region. That promise is now being measured against a rising body count. Those promises now sit uncomfortably against the fresh toll. Governor Caleb Mutfwang has responded to the latest attacks by announcing tightened security measures and vowing that perpetrators will face justice.

“We are tightening security across all affected local government areas,” Mutfwang said, according to Punch. “Those responsible for these heinous acts will not escape justice.”

But residents in affected communities have heard similar language before. The gap between government statements and tangible security improvements on the ground remains the defining grievance driving local anger.

Pattern of Recurring Violence

Plateau State has endured cycles of deadly communal and sectarian violence for years. The central highlands region — particularly areas like Barkin Ladi and Riyom — have seen repeated attacks that follow a grim pattern: violence erupts, officials condemn it, security is “tightened,” and weeks later another attack occurs.

Rights groups and local community leaders have repeatedly called on the federal government to commission a transparent investigation into the root causes of the violence and to hold security personnel accountable for failures to protect civilians.

With over 50 lives now lost in the latest wave alone, the pressure on both Abuja and the Plateau State government to deliver something beyond rhetoric has rarely been more intense.

Sources: Daily Trust, Premium Times, Punch